Ever feel like you\’re grasping at straws? Sometimes there doesn\’t seem to be anything else to do.

When working to improve power; or form; or any other aspect of cycling, we\’re apt to reach a point where progress seems to stall. It can even seem like we\’re regressing.

It\’s a discouraging place to be, but it might be better not to fight it too hard. That can lead to burnout, or worse. If Rome wasn\’t built in a day, a good cyclist isn\’t made overnight.

Ride easy for a couple of days, or even take a day off from the bike. Do some alternate form of exercise. Think about any on-bike gains you\’ve made, however small; and rejoice in them.

I can easily feel a bit down when I see that my weekly long ride\’s overall average speed doesn\’t seem to be improving. That\’s when I must remind myself that it\’s become easier for me to average 15 mph for longer stretches; and that, at one time, 15 mph for just a few seconds, even with a good tailwind, was hard work. And that it\’s easier for me to ride up the access ramp to the MRT!

Grasping at straws? Perhaps; but I\’m not getting graded on my prowess (if you can call it that) on a bicycle. I ride because my legs love to ride. It lets me get places, such as the salvage store. If you love getting groceries on the cheap, and don\’t mind unpredictable merchandise, look for one in your area.

I\’d like to know something, though. We talk of grasping at straws when we\’re trying to find hope in a bad situation; yet there\’s always the one that breaks the camel\’s back. Let\’s hope we don\’t get ahold of that one!